Africa’s creative economy is often celebrated for its raw talent, cultural depth, and global appeal. However, beneath this recognition lies a more fundamental challenge. At a Miva University masterclass on Culture, Capital and Country: Reimagining Africa’s Global Influence, media entrepreneur, creative economy strategist, and Chairman of Chocolate City Group, Audu Maikori, argued that Africa’s biggest gap is not creativity, but systems.

Across music, film, and entertainment, there is abundant talent, but limited infrastructure to sustain, scale, and distribute value.

He illustrated this with a personal story from his early years in law school:

“I went to Okrika market, bought ties for about ₦200, wore them to school, and people loved them. I sold those ties for ₦2,000 each and later expanded into selling shirts. What started as a small hustle became an early lesson in spotting demand, understanding value, and building confidence through repetition.”

For him, this experience reflects a broader truth. Talent is often raw and unstructured, and the real skill lies in identifying potential early and building systems that allow it to grow. Confidence, he added, is built through action and repetition rather than certainty.

He also noted that even strong talent struggles without the right structures in place. Weak intellectual property protection, limited funding pathways, and underdeveloped distribution systems continue to limit Africa’s creative potential.

As part of the conversation, Maikori, who is also co-founder and Chairman of Chocolate City Group, referenced Founders Fund Africa, an initiative he is part of that is designed as a way of giving back to the ecosystem and supporting the next generation of African creators and builders.

The fund focuses on Music, Film & Media, Design, and Creative Tech, backing emerging talent across areas such as gaming, app development, and broader creative technology.

He noted that the first cohort will be launching soon and encouraged students to stay alert for updates as applications open.

Ultimately, the discussion reframed Africa’s future: not a shortage of talent, but a shortage of systems that can turn creativity into lasting global influence.